This is a story about serendipity and probability. Nicole He met Arnaud De Bock while waiting in line for the bathroom at a GDC developer party in 2019. She was giving a talk on voice technology in art and games, showcasing her interactive projects like the True Love Tinder Robot and Garden Friends. De Bock, working on the Reigns series and Card Shark, was also finishing up Pikuniku on the side. Despite not being officially invited to the party, He was snuck in by Ape Out co-creator Maxi Boch, leading to a chance encounter with De Bock that sparked a collaboration. Inspired by the Japanese reality show Terrace House, He and De Bock began creating The Crush House with the help of Nerial. The game, set in a seaside mansion in 1999, blends elements of Terrace House and shows like Love Island, allowing players to take on the role of a producer and videographer navigating the interactions of four characters. With procedurally generated dialogue and 12 unique characters to choose from, The Crush House offers a highly replayable experience that continues to surprise both its creators and players. Now available on Steam for PC, The Crush House is a testament to the magical moment when a project clicks into place.
